Slicing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Cutting or slicing apparatus having a cutter blade movably mounted on a frame so as to be oscillatable along an arcuate path of travel, and gauge means adapted to correctly locate material to be cut by the cutter blade and which is also movably mounted on the aforementioned frame. The gauge means is positioned in advance of the cutting edge of the blade to allow passage of cut material to a conveyor located therebeneath, and it is coupled with the cutter blade so as to reciprocate in response to oscillatory movement of that blade. The coupling is such that a constant spacing is maintained between the cutting edge of the blade and the adjacent side of the gauge means.

United States Bingham [451 June 6, 1972 541 SLICING APPARATUS 2,076,9594 1937 McKee eta] ..l46/l55 1 2,551,876 5/1951 Cronin ..83/647.5 [72]Imam" 2,889,878 6/1959 White etal ..146/151 x Austraha [7 3] I Assignee:Pitters Proprietary Limited, Moorabbin, Primary Examiner-willieG-Abercfombie Vi i A ali Attorney-Bames, Kisselle, Raisch & Choate 22Filed: Jan. 23, 1970 Appl, No.: 6,525

Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Cutting or slicingapparatus having a cutter blade movably mounted on a frame so as to beoscillatable along an arcuate path of travel, and gauge means adapted tocorrectly locate Feb. 12, 1969 Australia 4.50353/69 material to be cutby the cutter blade and which is also movably mounted on theaforementioned frame. The gauge US. Cl 146/ 131, 146/151, 83/391, meansis positioned in advance of the cutting edge of the blade /6475 to allowpassage of cut material to a conveyor located Int. Cl. ..B26d 4/22, B26d5/14 therebeneath, and it is coupled with the cutter blade so as toField of Search ..146/15l, 131, 137., 138, 155; reciprocate in responseto oscillatory movement of that blade. 83/391, 643, 646, 647.5 Thecoupling is such that a constant spacing is maintained between thecutting edge of the blade and the adjacent side of References Cited thegauge means.

' UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 1 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 3,411,460 11/1968Weil ..146/151 X 2 a a, 1 11 7 V I? i? 1 1 9 h I 2 22 1a i :3 M 19 .9 l

PATENTEDJUH 6|972 1667.522

SHEET 10F 4 sucm'c APPARATUS This invention relates to cutting orslicing apparatus, and is particularly although not exclusivelyconcerned with such apparatus for cutting or slicing foodstuffs.Apparatus according to the invention is especially applicable to cuttingblocks or sections of frozen fish meat or pulp to form what are commonlycalled fish fingers. It will be therefore convenient to describe theinvention in relation to the manufacture of such fish fingers."

Fish fingers are generally elongated rectangular sections cut fromblocks of frozen fish meat or pulp. The cut sections are usually coatedwith a batter and bread crumbs and subsequently cooked preparatory topackaging.

A major problem encountered in producing such fish sections is obtainingaccurate and clean cutting so that the sections are uniform size andthere is a minimum waste of material. Each section must be gauged beforecutting to obtain the correct size, and it is generally necessary forthe gauge to move with the cutter. Hitherto, it has been common to usecutting apparatus having a reciprocatable cutter blade because it isrelatively simple to couple the gauge to such a blade for simultaneousmovement, but the cutting action achieved is generally unsatisfactory.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide cutting orslicing apparatus which is of relatively simple economic constructionand which has a clean cutting action. It is a further object of apreferred embodiment of the invention to provide such apparatus whichenables accurate slicing of foodstuffs such as frozen fish meat or pulp.

According to the present invention, there is provided cutting or slicingapparatus including; a main frame; a cutter blade movably mounted onsaid frame and operatively connected to drive means so as to bereciprocatable along a path of travel; and gauge means movably mountedon said frame for correctly locating material to be cut by said cutterblade, and being located in advance of the cutting edge of the blade toallow passage of cut material therebetween; said gauge means beingcoupled to the cutter blade so as to reciprocate in response to saidreciprocatory movement of the blade, the direction of movement of thegauge means being oblique to said path of travel, and the coupling issuch as to maintain a predetermined spacing between said cutting edgeand the adjacent side of said gauge means.

The following description refers in more detail to these essentialfeatures and further optional features of the invention. To facilitatean understanding of the invention, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings where these features are illustrated in preferred form. It isto be understood however, that the essential and optional features ofthe invention are not limited to the specific forms of these features asshown in the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a semi-diagrammatic front elevational view of one embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the cutter assembly of the apparatusshown in FIG. 1, but showing the cutter blade in its retracted position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the cutter blade in itsextended position;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V1-V1 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-V11 of FIG. 2.

The cutter preferably includes an elongated blade 2 removably secured toa carrier bar 3 so that the cutting edge 4 of the blade 2 protrudesbeyond one longitudinal edge of the carrier bar 3. The blade mountingmay include a pair of control arms 5, each of which has its opposite endportions respectively pivotally connected to respective end portions ofthe carrier bar 3 and a rigid support such as a machine frame 6. The twocontrol arms 5 are preferably of substantially equal length.

In one form, the cutter pivot 7 of each control arm 5 includes arelatively heavy duty bearing 8 having a large bearing surface so as tominimize relative movement, other than the desired pivotal movement,between the carrier bar 3 and the respective control arm 5. Each machineframe pivot may include a rotatable shaft 9 which is secured to itsrespective control arm 5 against movement relative thereto. At least oneof the shafts 9 is drivably connected to appropriate drive means (notshown) for oscillatory movement within a bearing 11 secured to themachine frame 6. Both pivots of each control arm 5 preferably have theirrespective axes extending substantially normal to the plane of movementof the cutting edge 4.

The cutter blade mounting is such that the blade 2 is movable between aretracted position (FIGS. 3 and 5) in which it is held clear of thematerial to be cut, and an extended position (FIGS. 4 and 6) in which ithas passedsubstantially completely through that material. A suitablebacking plate 12 (FIGS. 1 and 5) may be located to restrain the materialas it is being cut, and that backing plate 12 preferably extends beneaththe cutting edge 4 of the blade 2 as shown in FIG. 5, to provide maximumsurface contact with a section of material being cut. In moving from theretracted position to the extended position, the blade 2 moves bothtowards and in the lengthwise direction of the backing plate 12. Thismovement is caused by the control arms 5, and results in a particularlyeffective cutting action.

Because of the influence of arms 5, the blade 2 travels through anarcuate path during operation, and the arrangement is preferably suchthat the cutting edge 4 extends substantially tangential to the arcdefining that path of travel when the blade 2 is in its extendedposition. Obviously, the same or similar i.e., straight line movementoblique to the backing plate 12 can be achieved through means other thanthe arms 5. For example, movement of the blade 2 may be controlledthrough cam means.

Preferably, the cutter blade 2 is located above and extends transverselyacross a suitable conveyor 13 carried by the machine frame 6. Thus,sections of material 14 (see FIG. 7) cut from a main body 15 by theblade 2 may drop on to the conveyor 13 for transport to an appropriateprocessing station or storage, as required. I

In one embodiment, a plurality of upstanding chutes 16 are secured tothe machine frame 6 so as'to be situated above the conveyor 13, and arelocated side by side to extend as a group transversely across theconveyor 13. If desired, and as shown in the drawings, more than onegroup of chutes 16 may be provided, depending upon the cross-sectionalsize of each chute 16 and the length of stroke of the cutter blade 2 inthe general direction of the conveyor 13. Each chute 16 is adapted tofeed a pre-cut body 15 of material downwardly into a position forcutting by the cutter blade 2, and the rest or cutting position of eachbody 15 is determined by an appropriate gauge as hereinafter described.Also, each chute 16 may include a pair of opposed channel members 17 asshown in FIG. 2.

The lower end of each chute 16 may be disposed so that the cutter blade2 passes underneath with minimum clearance as shown in FIG. 7. Aseparate backing plate may depend downwardly from the remote side ofeach chute 16 in the group located furthest from the cutter blade 2, butthe same plate 12 may serve all chutes of that group. Furthermore, inthe case of a plurality of groups of chutes being used, the backingplate 12 is only necessary on that group located remote from the cutterblade 2 when in its retracted position, as the sections of materialprojecting from the chutes 16 of the other groups may each form abacking for the adjacent material section located nearest the cutterblade 2.

Any suitable gauge may be used, but it preferably includes a frame 18movably mounted on the machine frame 6 and carrying a plurality of gaugeplates 19. Each gauge plate 19 is locatable beneath a respective chute16, or a number of the chutes 16, to form a support surface againstwhich a lower end of the or each body of material rests. For example,each gauge plate 19 may serve the corresponding chute 16 of each groupof chutes, if more than one group is provided. Altematively, a singlegauge plate may serve all chutes.

Preferably, the gauge frame 18 is mounted on the machine frame 6 formovement generally in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor 13.Such mounting may include a pair of laterally spaced arms 21 of thegauge frame 18, each of which extends longitudinally of the conveyor 13and is located adjacent opposite sides respectively of the conveyor 13.Each arm 21 may be slidably mounted in one or more, preferably two,bearing blocks 22 fixed to the machine frame 6 as shown in FIGS. 2 and7.

The arms 21 may be connected by a cross member 23 at or adjacent theirrespective ends remote from the cutter blade 2, and the guide plates 19may be mounted on that cross member 23 for independent or simultaneousadjustment to vary their spacing from the lower end of the chutes 16.Any suitable adjusting means such as one or more jack-screws 24 may beemployed.

Coupling means connecting the cutter blade 2 and guide frame 18preferably includes a pair of abutment members secured to each arm 21and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the respective arm 21.The carrier bar 3 locates neatly between each pair of abutment membersso that the frame is caused to reciprocate in a direction transverse tothe cutting edge 4, during movement of the cutter 2 between its extendedand retracted positions. Preferably, each abutment is in the form of aroller 25 (see FIG. 7) mounted for rotation about a substantiallyvertical axes, thereby facilitating movement of the carrier bar 3laterally relative to the arms 21.

With the foregoing coupling means, a substantially constant distance maybe maintained between the cutting edge 4 of the blade 2 and the adjacentend of each gauge plate 19. The cutter and gauge relationship may besuch that the gauge plates 19 are located beneath the chutes 16 as thecutter blade 2 moves from its retracted position towards its extendedposition. As the cutter blade 2 approaches its extended position, theplates 19 move clear of the chutes 16 so allowing material sections 14severed by the blade 2 to drop to the conveyor 13 as shown in F IG. 7.The coupling means is such that the plates 19 commence to move intoposition underneath the chutes 16 almost immediately the cutter startsits return movement towards the retracted position. During the firstpart of that return movement, the material bodies 15 in the chutes 16are supported on the upper surface of the cutter blade 2 and carrier bar3 but as the cutter moves clear of the chutes 16 the bodies 15 dropunder gravity on to the gauge plates 19 which are by this time locatedbeneath their respective chutes 16. Thus, the cutter blade 2 maycontinuously move between the retracted and extended positions at arelatively high speed so long as material to be cut is located withinthe chutes 16.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the presentinvention provides an extremely simple and effective cutting or slicingapparatus. In particular, the apparatus described has an especiallyeffective cutting action thereby minimizing material waste, and thecoupling between the cutter and gauge is such that high speed accurateoperation is possible.

cutter blade so as to cause reciprocatory movement of said gauge meansin response to oscillatory movement of said cutter blade; said couplingmeans permitting relative movement between said cutter blade and saidgauge means to compensate for their different paths of travel, andacting between said cutter blade and said gauge means to maintain apredetermined spacing between said cutting edge and the adjacent side oredge of said gauge means; and adjusting means connected to said gaugemeans to permit variation of the spacing between a gauge surface of thegauge means and said plane containing said cutting edge.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cutter blade is mountedon said frame by a pair of control arms extending substantially parallelto each other and each having one end portion pivotally connected to arespective end portion of the cutter blade, the opposite end portion ofeach said arm being pivotally connected to said main frame and at leastone of said control arms is operatively connected to said main frame andat least one of said control arms is operatively connected to drivemeans so as to cause oscillatory movement of Having now describedmyinvention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. Cutting or slicing apparatus including, a main frame; a cutter blademovably mounted on said frame and operatively connected to drive meansso as to be oscillatable along an arcuate path of travel; gauge meansmounted on said frame for movement along a straight path extendingtransverse to said arcuate path of travel of said cutter blade; saidgauge means being located relative to the plane containing the cuttingedge of said blade during movement thereof so as to correctly locatematerial to be cut in the path of said blade, and being located inadvance of said cutting edge to allow material cut by said blade to passbetween said gauge means and said cutter blade; coupling meansconnecting said gauge means to said both control arms about theirrespective frame pivots and thereby move the cutter blade through anarcuate path of travel.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a conveyor is carried by saidmain frame and located beneath the cutter blade so as to receivematerial cut thereby and transport it to a delivery point, and a supplyof said material is adapted to be fed to the cutter blade through achute secured to the frame and arranged to retain the material againstsubstantial movement relative thereto during the cutting operation, saidmaterial supply being urged towards the gauge means so as to beautomatically relocated for each cutting operation.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of said chutesare arranged side by side so as to each feed a respective materialsupply to the cutter blade.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cutter blade is locatedat retracted and extended positions respectively at the opposite ends ofsaid path of travel, and in said extended position the cutting edge ofthe blade extends substan tially tangential to the arc defining saidpath of travel.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plane is locatedsubstantially horizontal and contains the upper surface of the cutterblade, and said gauge surface is disposed beneath and substantiallyparallel to said plane.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1,'wherein said gauge surface is definedby the upper surface of a gauge plate secured to a cross memberextending substantially parallel to said cutting edge and having itsopposite end portions each secured to a respective mounting arm, saidarms extending transverse to said cutting edge in the direction ofreciprocation of said gauge means and being slidably mounted on saidframe for movement in said direction.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting meansadjustably connects each end portion of the cross member to itsrespective mounting arm.

9. Cutting or slicing apparatus including, a main frame; a

cutter blade movably mounted on said frame and operatively connected todrive means so as to be oscillatable along an arcuate path of travel;gauge means mounted on said frame for movement along a straight pathextending transverse to said arcuate path of travel of said cutlerblade; said gauge means being located relative to the plane containingthe cutting edge of said blade during movement thereof so as tocorrectly locate material to be cut in the path of said blade, and beinglocated in advance of said cutting edge to allow material cut by saidblade to pass between said gauge means and said cutter blade; couplingmeans connecting said gauge means to said cutter blade so as to causereciprocatory movement of said gauge means in response to oscillatorymovement of said cutter blade; said coupling means permitting relativemovement between said cutter blade and said gauge means to compensatefor their different paths of travel, and acting between said cutterblade and said gauge means to maintain a predetermined spacing betweensaid cutting edge and the adjacent side or edge of said gauge means; andadjusting means connected to said gauge means to permit variation of thespacing between a gauge surface of the gauge means and said planecontaining said cutting edge,

said gauge surface being defined by the upper surface of a gauge platesecured to a cross member extending substantially parallel to saidcutting edge and having its opposite end portions each secured to arespective mounting arm, said anns extending transverse to said cuttingedge in the direction of reciprocation of said gauge means and beingslidably mounted on said frame for movement in said direction,

said gauge means being coupled to the cutter blade by two pair ofabutment members, each said pair being secured to a respective saidmounting arm so that the members thereof are spaced apart in thelongitudinal direction of the arm and each slidably engages a respectiveopposite abutment face of said cutter blade, and each said abutment faceprojects downwardly towards said arms and extends substantially parallelto said cutting edge.

10. Cutting or slicing apparatus including, a main frame; a cutter blademovably mounted on said frame and operatively connected to drive meansso as to be oscillatable along an arcuate path of travel; gauge meansmounted on said frame for movement along a straight path extendingtransverse to said arcuate path of travel of said cutter blade; saidgauge means being located relative to the plane containing the cuttingedge of said blade during movement thereof so as to correctly locatematerial to be cut in the path of said blade, and being located inadvance of said cutting edge to allow material cut by said blade to passbetween said gauge means and said cutter blade; coupling meansconnecting said gauge means to said cutter blade so as to causereciprocatory movement of said gauge means in response to oscillatorymovement of said cutter blade; said coupling means permitting relativemovement between said cutter blade and said gauge means to compensatefor their different paths of travel, and acting between said cutterblade and said gauge means to maintain a predetermined spacing betweensaid cutting edge and the adjacent side or edge of said gauge means; andadjusting means connected to said gauge means to permit variation of thespacing between a gauge surface of the gauge means and said planecontaining said cutting edge,

said cutter blade including a carrier bar and a blade element releasablysecured thereto, said abutment faces are defined by front and rear facesrespectively of said carrier bar, and each said abutment is in the formof a roller arranged to facilitate lateral movement of the carrier barrelative to said mounting arms.

11. Cutting or slicing apparatus including a main frame; a cutter blademovably mounted on said frame and operatively connected to drive meansso as to be oscillatable along an arcuate path of travel; gauge meansmounted on said frame for movement along a straight path extendingtransverse to said arcuate path of travel of said cutter blade; saidgauge means being located relative to the plane containing the cuttingedge of said blade during movement thereof so as to correctly locatematerial to be cut in the path of said blade, and being located inadvance of said cutting edge to allow material cut by said blade to passbetween said gauge means and said cutter blade; coupling meansconnecting said gauge means to said cutter blade and comprising firstand second abutment means attached to said gauge means and said cutterblade respectively, said first and second abutment means cooperating toprevent relative movement between said gauge means and said cutter bladein the direction of said straight path but permitting such relativemovement transverse to said direction, whereby said gauge means iscaused to reciprocate in response to oscillatory movement of said cutterblade and a predetermined spacing is maintained between said cuttingedge and the adjacent side or edge of said gauge means; and adjustingmeans connected to said gauge means to permit variation of the spacingbetween a gauge surface of the gauge means and said plane containingsaid cutting edge.

1. Cutting or slicing apparatus including, a main frame; a cutter blademovably mounted on said frame and operatively connected to drive meansso as to be oscillatable along an arcuate path of travel; gauge meansmounted on said frame for movement along a straight path extendingtransverse to said arcuate path of travel of said cutter blade; saidgauge means being located relative to the plane containing the cuttingedge of said blade during movement thereof so as to correctly locatematerial to be cut in the path of said blade, and being located inadvance of said cutting edge to allow material cut by said blade to passbetween said gauge means and said cutter blade; coupling meansconnecting said gauge means to said cutter blade so as to causereciprocatory movement of said gauge means in response to oscillatorymovement of said cutter blade; said coupling means permitting relativemovement between said cutter blade and said gauge means to compensatefor their different paths of travel, and acting between said cutterblade and said gauge means to maintain a predetermined spacing betweensaid cutting edge and the adjacent side or edge of said gauge means; andadjusting means connected to said gauge means to permit variation of thespacing between a gauge surface of the gauge means and said planecontaining said cutting edge.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid cutter blade is mounted on said frame by a pair of control armsextending substantially parallel to each other and each having one endportion pivotally connected to a respective end portion of the cutterblade, the opposite end portion of each said arm being pivotallyconnected to said main frame and at least one of said control arms isoperatively connected to said main frame and at least one of saidcontrol arms is operatively connected to drive means so as to causeoscillatory movement of both control arms about their respective framepivots and thereby move the cutter blade through an arcuate path oftravel.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a conveyor is carriedby said main frame and located beneath the cutter blade so as to receivematerial cut thereby and transport it to a delivery point, and a supplyof said material is adapted to be fed to the cutter blade through achute secured to the frame and arranged to retain the material againstsubstantial movement relative thereto during the cutting operation, saidmaterial supply being urged towards the gauge means so as to beautomatically relocated for each cutting operation.
 4. Apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein a plurality of said chutes are arrangedside by side so as to each feed a respective material supply to thecutter blade.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cutterblade is located at retracted and extended positions respectively at theopposite ends of said path of travel, and in said extended position thecutting edge of the blade extends substanTially tangential to the arcdefining said path of travel.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid plane is located substantially horizontal and contains the uppersurface of the cutter blade, and said gauge surface is disposed beneathand substantially parallel to said plane.
 7. Apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said gauge surface is defined by the upper surface of agauge plate secured to a cross member extending substantially parallelto said cutting edge and having its opposite end portions each securedto a respective mounting arm, said arms extending transverse to saidcutting edge in the direction of reciprocation of said gauge means andbeing slidably mounted on said frame for movement in said direction. 8.Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting means adjustablyconnects each end portion of the cross member to its respective mountingarm.
 9. Cutting or slicing apparatus including, a main frame; a cutterblade movably mounted on said frame and operatively connected to drivemeans so as to be oscillatable along an arcuate path of travel; gaugemeans mounted on said frame for movement along a straight path extendingtransverse to said arcuate path of travel of said cutler blade; saidgauge means being located relative to the plane containing the cuttingedge of said blade during movement thereof so as to correctly locatematerial to be cut in the path of said blade, and being located inadvance of said cutting edge to allow material cut by said blade to passbetween said gauge means and said cutter blade; coupling meansconnecting said gauge means to said cutter blade so as to causereciprocatory movement of said gauge means in response to oscillatorymovement of said cutter blade; said coupling means permitting relativemovement between said cutter blade and said gauge means to compensatefor their different paths of travel, and acting between said cutterblade and said gauge means to maintain a predetermined spacing betweensaid cutting edge and the adjacent side or edge of said gauge means; andadjusting means connected to said gauge means to permit variation of thespacing between a gauge surface of the gauge means and said planecontaining said cutting edge, said gauge surface being defined by theupper surface of a gauge plate secured to a cross member extendingsubstantially parallel to said cutting edge and having its opposite endportions each secured to a respective mounting arm, said arms extendingtransverse to said cutting edge in the direction of reciprocation ofsaid gauge means and being slidably mounted on said frame for movementin said direction, said gauge means being coupled to the cutter blade bytwo pair of abutment members, each said pair being secured to arespective said mounting arm so that the members thereof are spacedapart in the longitudinal direction of the arm and each slidably engagesa respective opposite abutment face of said cutter blade, and each saidabutment face projects downwardly towards said arms and extendssubstantially parallel to said cutting edge.
 10. Cutting or slicingapparatus including, a main frame; a cutter blade movably mounted onsaid frame and operatively connected to drive means so as to beoscillatable along an arcuate path of travel; gauge means mounted onsaid frame for movement along a straight path extending transverse tosaid arcuate path of travel of said cutter blade; said gauge means beinglocated relative to the plane containing the cutting edge of said bladeduring movement thereof so as to correctly locate material to be cut inthe path of said blade, and being located in advance of said cuttingedge to allow material cut by said blade to pass between said gaugemeans and said cutter blade; coupling means connecting said gauge meansto said cutter blade so as to cause reciprocatory movement of said gaugemeans in response to oscillatory movement of said cutter blade; saidcoupling means permitting relative movement between said cutTer bladeand said gauge means to compensate for their different paths of travel,and acting between said cutter blade and said gauge means to maintain apredetermined spacing between said cutting edge and the adjacent side oredge of said gauge means; and adjusting means connected to said gaugemeans to permit variation of the spacing between a gauge surface of thegauge means and said plane containing said cutting edge, said cutterblade including a carrier bar and a blade element releasably securedthereto, said abutment faces are defined by front and rear facesrespectively of said carrier bar, and each said abutment is in the formof a roller arranged to facilitate lateral movement of the carrier barrelative to said mounting arms.
 11. Cutting or slicing apparatusincluding a main frame; a cutter blade movably mounted on said frame andoperatively connected to drive means so as to be oscillatable along anarcuate path of travel; gauge means mounted on said frame for movementalong a straight path extending transverse to said arcuate path oftravel of said cutter blade; said gauge means being located relative tothe plane containing the cutting edge of said blade during movementthereof so as to correctly locate material to be cut in the path of saidblade, and being located in advance of said cutting edge to allowmaterial cut by said blade to pass between said gauge means and saidcutter blade; coupling means connecting said gauge means to said cutterblade and comprising first and second abutment means attached to saidgauge means and said cutter blade respectively, said first and secondabutment means cooperating to prevent relative movement between saidgauge means and said cutter blade in the direction of said straight pathbut permitting such relative movement transverse to said direction,whereby said gauge means is caused to reciprocate in response tooscillatory movement of said cutter blade and a predetermined spacing ismaintained between said cutting edge and the adjacent side or edge ofsaid gauge means; and adjusting means connected to said gauge means topermit variation of the spacing between a gauge surface of the gaugemeans and said plane containing said cutting edge.